SOUTH EAST ASIA EARTHQUAKE APPEAL
13 FEBRUARY 2006
From the WMDC Press and Communications Office
Wakefield
Council is asking the community to help identify a specific area in Pakistan
to benefit from the district's fundraising efforts. Council Leader
Councillor Peter Box wants to focus on a Pakistan community to contribute to
its reconstruction. There is also a possibility of developing long-term
twinning links.
After
the October 2005 earthquake, Wakefield Council donated £10,000 through the
British Red Cross towards the relief effort. Over the last few weeks the
Council has worked closely with the South Asian community to coordinate
local support. Clothes, tents and blankets have been donated at nine
Wakefield Collection Centres and four deliveries have been sent to Kashmir.
Councillor
Box said: "It is encouraging to see an active co-operation between the
Council and the community over the last few months to raise funds for the
relief and construction effort. We are now working together to look at
helping the region in the longer-term. The money which is being raised will
directly help a local community in Kashmir where schools, medical facilities
and community infra-structure are all badly needed. We would like to see
Wakefield twinned with a particular community in order to focus our efforts
and appeal funds."
By
the end of January 2006 the Wakefield Asian Welfare Association had raised
over £5,000 in a special appeal account. The Council's appeal account has
raised £6,250 through collections from Council services, employees who
donated instead of sending Christmas cards, and the public.
Proceeds
from the Next Generation Community Youth Project's 'Fast for Peace',
Wakefield Rotary Club's collection at the annual Bonfire event, Sandal Manga
Junior and Infant Parent and Toddler Group's Cultural Event for Women and a
Council staff Christmas event organised by Cllr Peter Loosemore were all
added to the funds.
Fund-raising
efforts are continuing for the foreseeable future, including in all
Wakefield schools. A Charity Dinner is also being planned for March.
Please
donate to either WMDC South Asia Earthquake Appeal at the Co-operative Bank,
Sort Code 089020 AC No 61513390 or WAWA (Wakefield Asian Welfare
Association) T/A Pakistan Earthquake Appeal, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sort
Code 16-33-27, Account No 10150667 Charity No. 4499060 .
For
further information on the appeal contact Nasim Aslam at the Council's
Cohesion Team on 01924 305735 or cohesion@wakefield.gov.uk
Ref:
PR714
Date: 13/02/06
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